How do you tie a non-slip loop knot?
Short answer
Make a loose overhand knot in the tippet, pass the tag through the hook eye and back through the overhand, wrap it four or five times around the standing line, then pass it back through the overhand again. Wet it and seat it, and you have a fixed loop the fly moves on.
How do you tie a non-slip loop knot?
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Loose overhand
Make an overhand knot in the tippet about six inches from the end, and leave it open rather than tightening it.
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Through the eye
Pass the tag end through the hook eye, then back through the open overhand loop from the same side it came out.
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Set the loop size
Slide the overhand towards the eye until the loop is the size you want — a quarter of an inch is plenty for most flies.
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Wrap the standing line
Take four or five turns around the standing line with the tag end, working away from the fly.
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Back through the overhand
Bring the tag back and pass it through the overhand loop once more, entering the same way as before.
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Wet and seat
Lubricate, pull the tag to snug the wraps, then pull the standing line and the fly in opposite directions to lock it.
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Trim
Cut the tag close. Check the loop is still open by hooking a finger through it and pulling.
What the loop actually does
A knot tied tight to the hook eye holds the fly rigidly in line with the tippet. On a dry fly that does not matter, because the fly is sitting still. On a streamer it matters a great deal: every bit of movement the fly has comes from water pushing against it, and a rigid connection damps that movement out.
With a loop, the fly pivots at the eye. A weighted streamer jigs on the pause, a heavy nymph hangs more naturally in the current, and an articulated fly can actually articulate. You can see the difference in clear water from the bank, which is the most convincing argument anyone has ever made for a knot.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use a loop knot instead of a clinch?
On streamers, weighted nymphs and any articulated fly. A tight knot holds the fly in line with the tippet and kills its movement; a loop lets it pivot and jig. On small dry flies the extra bulk is not worth it.
How many wraps does a non-slip loop take?
Four or five on normal trout tippet. The rule of thumb runs the other way from most knots: heavier material takes fewer wraps, so use three on anything above 1X and six or seven on very fine tippet.
Will the loop slip closed on a fish?
Not if it is tied and seated correctly — that is precisely what the "non-slip" refers to. If a loop has closed, the overhand was not drawn down firmly before the final pass.
Sources
Flies mentioned in this guide
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